Is it Really Possible that Liposuction Can Remove Cellulite?

Many women are plagued with areas of cellulite on their bodies, and trying to get rid of it can be quite difficult and at times, even depressing.

I doubt that you are alone when trying to look for ways to remove cellulite or at least reduce its appearance but it can help if you understand a little about what cellulite is and what causes it to appear on the body, before you can consider ways of removing it.

Liposuction, cellulite and the thought of being ‘fat free’ enters the heads of many as the summer season approaches.  However, whilst we are a seemingly ‘quick fix’ society these days and it would appear that our thoughts on cellulite removal are no exception, it begs the question, is really the answer to cellulite removal?

What is Cellulite?

Everybody has a normal layer of fat beneath the skin, the purpose of which is to provide both insulation and protection – even thin or skinny people will have some fat underneath their skin, and simply put cellulite is just plain old fat.

However, cellulite fat is a different type of body fat and it is deposited in specific areas of the body.  As fat deposits increase, together with an accumulation of fluid deposits, the connecting tissues which attach the skin to the muscles can harden, and the fat is forced up against the connective tissues and skin, resulting in a dimpled and lumpy, bumpy surface appearance.

The definition of cellulite can be outlined in more simple terms as fat cells trapped by a network of fibres. Although these fibres in a healthy body however, are being continuously cleansed by the body’s fluids.  As a result of a poor level of circulation, this cleansing process is not performed effectively, and consequently waste products can accumulate and slowly thicken to form these hard pockets of fat.

Who Can Get Cellulite?

It is not just individuals who are overweight who need to worry about cellulite removal.  Sometimes even thinner people and athletic types, who exercise regularly, can still have some cellulite in their bodies.  Cellulite is most often associated with the thighs and buttocks, but it can also show up around the calves and on the abdomen or stomach area.

Cellulite is not just restricted to women, some men can get it too although it is a problem that mostly seems to affect women.  And this is primarily because men and women are made up of differing tissue components, more inflexible connective tissue to be precise. So, as women gain weight, their fat cells expand and will then create uneven bulging towards the skin’s surface.

As we age too, we have a greater chance of accumulating fat stores in the body – primarily due to the fact that we have less energy, move less and expend less energy, therefore we gain weight, and the surrounding skin that encases the cellulite containing areas, will begin to wrinkle and sag.

Do You Have Cellulite?

A good test to know whether or not you have cellulite is two pinch a large area of the flesh on your thigh and push it together with your fingers or hands.  If the skin appears dimpled, then you definitely have cellulite.

You may want to get rid of this cellulite because you are very conscious of it but it may not be so obvious to others and is usually in areas hidden by clothes.

Why Does Cellulite Occur?

There seem to be various different reasons as to why some individuals have more noticeable areas of cellulite deposits than others.  As mentioned previously, more women than men are prone to cellulite on areas of their bodies, and it is possible that others may be influenced by certain genetic conditions, in particular the thickness of the skin.

Many doctors believe that the chances of getting cellulite are heightened by poor diet, smoking and either insufficient or no physical exercise.

Whilst cellulite hasn’t really been proved to be related to obesity (as even some underweight individuals can develop the ‘orange peel’ dimpling effect), diet would appear to play a major role in the appearance of cellulite on the body.

Due to a hormonal imbalance, many women produce cellulite throughout their fertile years.  It is a quite normal way of storing fat reserves for when a woman becomes pregnant, but unfortunately, once a women reaches her 40s, changes in her body and reductions in hormones, can lead to a loss of muscle and the storage of excess cellulite. This can even happen to very slim women.

So, we cannot avoid fighting the build-up of cellulite. Prevention with a healthy lifestyle from the start is possible, but has yet to be proved.

What is Liposuction and Can Liposuction Remove Cellulite?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure, performed with either a general or a local , which can remove areas of fat from the body where excessive amounts have built up – most often the abdomen, hips and thighs.

Liposuction involves the use of a cannula (slender metal tube), being inserted into the area to be treated.  This cannula is connected to a vacuum pump that sucks the fat out throughout the procedure.

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The human body doesn’t produce any more fat cells after the age of about 15, or as puberty finishes, but any existing fat cells within the body can keep increasing in size.

Theoretically, by maintaining a healthy weight, the results of liposuction can be effectively very long lasting.

Because fat is basically a liquid, when it is removed from the body, the skin automatically tightens and retracts around the treated area, resulting in a smoother appearance.

Liposuction can work to remove cellulite, as it helps to dislodge and detach fat from the connective fibrous tissue beneath the skin, but results can be varied and unpredictable at times, although you obviously won’t know if the liposuction procedure works as a good treatment for cellulite removal unless you try it.

Liposuction works quite well on patients younger than approximately 50 years of age, but seems to create more dimpling to the skin with more mature patients.

Because liposuction for cellulite removal can have mixed results, there is debate amongst many renowned cosmetic surgeons as to whether or not it is an appropriate treatment for cellulite.

Cellulite Removal Alternatives to Liposuction

Cellulite lotions, slimming gels, cellulite creams and pills to combat excess weight and cellulite storage can be applied to the body, although how effective they are remains to be proved.

It is vital to use an adjuvant treatment first though, before turning to more radical solutions such as liposuction surgery or even injections used in LipoDissolve treatment.  These methods are deemed a little aggressive on the body and it is always best to try more natural alternatives first, such as massages, sport and exercise and a good diet – however this is often not enough.

There are now some non-surgical liposuction alternatives available, as advances in the non-invasive fat removal and body contouring have moved on.

Popular and effective methods of non-invasive fat removal which give amazingly similar results to liposuction are: Thermage®, LipoDissolve™, Mesotherapy, and VelaShape™ and VelaSmooth™.

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